At the end of the Angelus, Pope Francis launches an appeal for the protection of the “common home”, linking to the upcoming Cop29 Conference on climate change, which will be held in Baku. On this occasion, the Pontiff expresses his hope that the summit can lead to concrete choices and urgent responses to counter the ecological crisis, also recalling the three years since the launch of the Laudato si’ platform, an initiative that brings together commitments and actions of the Church inspired by his encyclical on integral ecology.
Francis’ thoughts then extend to Indonesia, hit hard by the eruptions of the Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano, and to the population of Valencia, still suffering from the floods of recent weeks. He asks the faithful to pray for the victims and to reflect on what each can do as a sign of solidarity. Finally, on the occasion of Thanksgiving Day celebrated by the Italian Church, the Pope thanks the agricultural world, inviting them to safeguard the fertility of the land also for future generations.
Below, the full text of the words spoken by the Pope.
Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!
Today the Gospel of the liturgy (cf Mc 12,38-44) tells us about Jesus who, in the temple of Jerusalem, denounces the hypocritical attitude of some scribes before the people (see vv. 38-40).
The latter were entrusted with an important role in the community of Israel: they read, transcribed and interpreted the Scriptures. Therefore they were held in high esteem and people paid them reverence.
Beyond appearances, however, their behavior often did not correspond to what they taught. They weren’t consistent. Some, in fact, thanks to the prestige and power they enjoyed, looked down on others – this is very bad, looking down on the other person -, they gave themselves airs and, hiding behind a façade of false respectability and legalism, they arrogated to themselves privileges and even went so far as to commit outright thefts to the detriment of the weakest, such as widows (see verse 40). Instead of using the role they were given to serve others, they made it an instrument of arrogance and manipulation. And it happened that even prayer, for them, risked no longer being the moment of meeting with the Lord, but an opportunity to show off respectability and false piety, useful for attracting people’s attention and gaining consensus (see ibid.) . Let us remember what Jesus says about the prayer of the publican and the Pharisee (cf Luke 18.9-14).
They – not all – behaved like corrupt people, fueling a social and religious system in which it was normal to take advantage of others, especially the most defenseless, by committing injustices and ensuring impunity.
Jesus recommends staying away from these people, to “be careful” (see verse 38), and not to imitate them. Indeed, with his word and his example, as we know, he teaches very different things about authority. He speaks of it in terms of self-sacrifice and humble service (cf Mc 10.42-45), of maternal and paternal tenderness towards people (see Luke 11,11-13), especially those most in need (Luke 10.25-37). It invites those affected to look at others, from their own position of power, not to humiliate them, but to lift them up, giving them hope and help.
So, brothers and sisters, we can ask ourselves: how do I behave in my areas of responsibility? Do I act with humility, or do I pride myself on my position? Am I generous and respectful with people, or do I treat them in a rude and authoritarian way? And with the most fragile, am I close to them, do I know how to bend down to help them get up?
May the Virgin Mary help us to fight the temptation of hypocrisy within ourselves – Jesus calls them “hypocrites”, hypocrisy is a great temptation – and help us to do good without showing off and with simplicity.
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After the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters!
Yesterday in Seville, Don Giuseppe Torres Padilla, co-founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross, was proclaimed Blessed. Having lived in nineteenth-century Spain, he distinguished himself as a priest, confessor and spiritual guide, demonstrating great charity towards the needy. May his example especially support priests in their ministry. A round of applause for the new Blessed!
Three years ago the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. I thank those who work in favor of this initiative. In this regard, I hope that the COP 29 Climate Change Conference, which begins tomorrow in Baku, will make an effective contribution to the protection of our common home.
I am close to the population of the island of Flores in Indonesia, affected by the eruption of a volcano; I pray for the victims, their families and the displaced. And I renew my memory for the inhabitants of Valencia and other parts of Spain who are facing the consequences of the flood. I ask you a question: have you prayed for Valencia? Have you thought about making some contribution to help those people? It’s just a question.
The news coming from Mozambique is worrying. I invite everyone to dialogue, tolerance and the tireless search for fair solutions. We pray for the entire Mozambican population, so that the current situation does not cause us to lose faith in the path of democracy, justice and peace.
And please continue to pray for the tormented Ukraine, where hospitals and other civilian buildings are also being hit; and we pray for Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan. We pray for peace throughout the world.
Today the Italian Church celebrates Thanksgiving Day. I express gratitude to the agricultural world and encourage them to cultivate the land in order to preserve its fertility for future generations.
I greet all of you with affection, Romans and pilgrims, and the boys of the Immaculate Conception. In particular, the faithful from Kazakhstan, Moscow, New York, Bastia (Corsica), from Beja and the Algarve in Portugal, from Warsaw, Lublin and other Polish locations. I greet the promoting Committee of the Global Educational Pact with the representatives of numerous Catholic Universities; I greet the confirmation candidates from Empoli; the volunteers of the Food Bank and the Italian Band of the Transport and Materials Corps. Let’s hope that the band will then make us feel something good!
And I wish everyone, everyone a good Sunday. Please don’t forget to pray for me. Have a nice lunch and see you!
